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Hewlett-Packard Co's better-than-expected quarterly results may raise the bar for competitor Dell Inc , which is more vulnerable to U.S. economic woes and reports earnings next week.

Hewlett-Packard, the world's largest personal computer maker, on Monday reported a better-than-expected 28 percent rise in quarterly profit as notebook PC sales increased. The company also said its board authorized an $8 billion additional share buyback program. Net income was $2.16 billion, or 81 cents per share, for its fiscal fourth quarter ended October 31, compared with $1.7 billion, or 60 cents per share, a year earlier.

Sun Microsystems said on Wednesday at Oracle’s Openworld that it has entered a distribution agreement with Dell, for its Solaris operating system.

Dell Inc. has continued to reveal its commitment to serving and supporting its customers through its dell lounge experimental website that broadcast artists’ concerts and albums to the online community.

Software company Oracle kicked off a five day IT conference in San Francisco with keynotes from several executives, including co-founder and CEO, Larry Ellison, who reminisced on the company's humble beginnings.

Dell Inc. has entered a definitive agreement to acquire EqualLogic, a leading provider of high-performance iSCSI storage area network (SAN) solutions.

Dell Inc., yesterday revealed an Energy Star 4.0 compliant desktop that helps consumers reduce their carbon footprint, in an effort to extend its commitment to becoming the greenest technology company in the world.

Lenovo, battling Acer Inc for the mantle of world's No. 3 PC maker, smashed expectations with a near-tripling in quarterly earnings thanks to robust PC demand and market share gains.

Insurer Coventry Health Care Inc on Friday posted a 14 percent increase in third-quarter profit, in line with forecasts, but shares fell on a slightly lower-than-expected 2008 profit forecast.

More than a year ago, Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Steve Ballmer stood in front a group of skeptical Wall Street analysts and insisted that the software maker was still a growth company.

The technology stocks fell on Thursday despite strong profit showings by big firms including Microsoft and EMC.

A non-profit group developing a low-cost laptop for poor children said that a production delay would cause a shortage of computers available in the United States and Canada as part of a holiday giving program.

Hitachi one of the leading global electronics company is pulling out of the business for selling personal computers.

Hitachi Ltd said on Tuesday it is withdrawing from the home personal-computer business amid sluggish sales, the latest move by a Japanese electronics group to trim struggling operations.

Retail shares were mostly higher on Monday, with gainers including Sears Holdings, Staples and Macy’s.

Dell Inc (DELL.O) said it would sell personal computers, printers, monitors and ink supplies in 1,400 Staples Inc (SPLS.O) stores in the United States, its latest move into retail after breaking from 23 years of selling directly to consumers.

Taiwan's Asustek said on Tuesday it will sell its new low-cost laptop PCs to consumers for as little as T$7,999 ($245) apiece, as it takes aim at more casual users in developed markets.

Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday said third-quarter profit fell, hurt by restructuring charges and weak demand for its Procrit anemia drug, but the results handily beat Wall Street expectations.

Dell Inc, the world's No.2 personal computer maker, said it would sell its latest range through China's largest electronics retailer, GOME Group, aiming to improve on its single-digit mainland market share.

The personal computer industry is in for a wave of consolidation, the president of Acer said on Friday, adding the Taiwanese PC maker did not plan any buys itself for up to two years.

Technology stocks have emerged as a safe haven for investors amid turmoil.

Lenovo Group Ltd., the world's third-largest PC maker, said on Thursday its nascent overseas consumer market will grow eventually to match the dominate position it enjoys in its home market.

Hewlett-Packard Co on Wednesday launched a line of powerful new computers aimed squarely at gamers, in the company's latest step to court a small-but-influential audience.

The Nikkei rose 2.6 percent on Friday as news that President George W. Bush will outline reforms to help homeowners with subprime mortgages sparked broad-based buying, and Dell Inc's earnings lifted high-tech stocks.

Dell Inc, the world's second-largest personal computer maker, on Thursday reported higher-than-expected profit as it benefited from lower costs for disk drives, chips and other components. But the company also said it expected component cost declines to slow in the second half, crimping profits, and it delayed any stock buybacks until after it files overdue financial reports with securities regulators.

Since taking the helm at Taiwan's top PC maker two years ago, J.T. Wang has trumped his opponents by building Acer Inc into the world's No.3 computer maker.

Taiwan's Acer announced on Monday that it has agreed to acquire U.S.-based Gateway for $710 million, zooming past China's Lenovo to become the world's third largest computer maker behind U.S. makers Hewlett-Packard and Dell.

Taiwan's Acer will buy Gateway for $710 million, creating the world's No. 3 PC maker and doubling its U.S. presence while dealing a blow to arch-foe Lenovo's efforts to grow in Europe.

Dell Inc. shares shed more than 2 percent on Tuesday amid concerns that industry-wide constraints on some display screen components and production issues with the paint on some of its notebook PC lines could delay the delivery of new machines.